Table of Contents
Drums in Worship
Modern worship music has been adopting a form of music that is mostly associated with rock bands. This trend has led worshipers to ask: Should Christian churches use drums in worship? To answer this question, we need to see what the Scriptures say about the use of drums in worship:
The Old Testament
The Lord specified only three types of instruments to be used inside the Sanctuary by the Levites. These are: harp, lyre [or stringed instrument], and the cymbal. “And he set the Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king’s seer, and Nathan the prophet: for so was the commandment of the Lord by his prophets” (2 Chronicles 29:25; also 1 Chronicles 25:1). Of the three instruments mentioned, the harp and lyre were, essentially, the same type of stringed instrument.
Though hand drums (tambourine, timbral or tabret) were apparently NOT employed in the sanctuary service, they were used in festivals and celebrations outside of the sanctuary (1 Samuel 10:5-6; Job 17:6; Job 21:11-14; Psalm 81:2; Isaiah 24:8; Jeremiah 31:4).
Psalm 150
Some people quote Psalm 150 as a reason for using drums in the sanctuary where David exhorted the people to use the following instruments: the trumpet, psaltery, harp, timbral, stringed instruments, organs and cymbals (Psalms 150:1-6). For these individuals, verse 1 presents a problem because it speaks of praising God “in His Sanctuary.” However, Psalm 150 has a future prophetic application for it is the great finale to the Hallelujah series of Psalms that begin in Psalms 146. Psalm 150 gives an invitation for everything (whether on earth or in heaven) that has breath to join in praise to God who will execute His final judgement on sin.
New Testament
It is interesting that there is no reference to hand drums being used in the New Testament. Historical records showed that drumming was banned because of their association with common and evil things. For drum rhythms have been used in pagan religious ceremonies (ex. voodoo, shamanism, and occult rituals).
Christians should have a distinction between the pure and the worldly influences (I John 2:15-17). Worshipers must not, with their music, encourage the attachment to the world that doesn’t glorify God. The Lord instructed His church, “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you” (2 Corinthians 6:17).
Therefore, the general rule in church music is that all instruments should be used as an aid to the voice, not an overpowering element. A continuous strong beat does not enhance the message and it turns a spiritual ministry into a sensual one.
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In His service,
BibleAsk Team
